DAMASCUS (Sputnik) – Russian servicemen at a checkpoint in Syria's southwestern Daraa province have checked some 1,500 people and 1,000 vehicles every day since the safe zone in the area was established, Russian military police serviceman said Monday.
"We have been staying at this border checkpoint for two weeks, everything is normal… We check thousands of people, [namely] how many enter and how many exit. Some 1,500 people per day. We inspect cars to prevent transfers of arms and ammunition. We communicate well with everybody, [and] the Syrians with us, as well," Artur Kartoev told reporters, adding that around 1,000 cars pass the checkpoint per day.
The figures demonstrate that the local population have stopped being afraid of militants, been getting used to a peaceful life and shown an understanding of the security requirements, he said.
Syria has been in the state of civil war for six years, with government forces fighting against both Syrian opposition groups who strive to overthrow President Bashar Assad, and numerous extremist and terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhat Fatah al Sham, both of which are outlawed in Russia.
